Examples for Paper 1 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Representative democracy example
Terminally Ill Adults Bill passed with majority of 55 in parliament at the end of 2024.
Legalised assisted dying for terminally ill adults
Parliament’s legislative function
“Free Vote” which meant MPs vote with their conscience not along party lines
Representative/Direct Democracy example
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe voted in favour of End of Life bill 2024 after hosting mini-referendum in his constituency
Promised to vote according to wishes of the people in his constituency. 75% for the bill
Example of representative trying to introduce an element of direct democracy in how they represent their constituency
Increased Party Membership (Against participation crisis)
Feb ‘25, Farage claimed Reform had surpassed 200,000 members, doubled Tory party membership, not far off from the Labour membership
Labour accused of Cronyism 2024 (For Democratic Deficit)
Summer ‘24, Labour gov was involved in a significant controversy involving prominent donor Lord Waheed Alli, a peer who donated over £500,000 to the party since 2020
Following Labour’s electoral victory, Alli was granted temporary security pass to Downing Street, which he used to organise a post-election event and reportedly advise on public appointments
Undermines public trust in politicians, those with money can influence politics despite being unelected
Age UK E-Petition (Direct Democracy)
Electorate engaged in politics between elections and how E-Petitions can generate significant involvement
590k signatures
Debates over Suffrage
Voter ID sees 50k turned away from 2024 vote
Could be used in a franchise question, concerns about voter suppression and undermining of democracy and rights in the UK
Labour supports 16+ voting
2024 Manifesto had extending the franchise of the electorate to 16+
Despite this commitment, no policy yet introduced, strong opposition from Tories and Reform UK.
Tories think 16 and 17 lack maturity
Reform says Labour are doing it for political gain not democracy to “rig future elections” coz demographic perceived to be more supportive of progressive politics
NFU moving between insider and outsider status
NFU under Conservatives were able to have significant policy influence (close to Tory Party)
Labour government means that their influence to policy has declined and they’re an outsider pressure group
Shows how a pressure group’s insider/outsider status and alignment with government direction is crucial in whether they’re able to exert influence over policy. They are highly dependent on government
Pressure group success
Muslim vote as an example of Pressure groups enhancing democracy
The Muslim Vote is a political social movement, aims to mobilise Muslim voters through social media to shape political outcomes
Informs voters how to elect pro-Gaza canndidates
2024 election, all 5 pro-ceasefire indepents elected were endorsed by TMV and 1/3 of their endorsed candidates won or came second
Pressure groups crucial to healthy democracy (how they’re influential) increasing public awareness and eucation, enhancing quality of participation and ensuring Pluralist democracy
Pressure group failure?
NFU - large amount of turnout with 13000 outside Westminster including Jeremy Clarkson but government refused to backtrack their inheritance tax decision. Farms valued over 1 million have to pay 20% inheritance tax and treasury refused to engage with NFU
Pressure group failure?
Environmental group against 3rd runway at Heathrow (Friends of the Earth) but they made no difference which shows lack of pressure group influence
Public Order Act 2023
UK government’s response to disruptive protest tactics from groups like Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil.
Introduced new offences such as “Locking on” which is now punishable by imprisonment or unlimited fines.
This Act was criticised for restricting the rights to protest in disruptive ways (often what makes protest successful)
Think tanks
Labour Together created to get Labour re-elected
Most key Labour Together figures are now frontbenchers (Rachel Reeves, Wes Streeting)
Former MP and member of Starmer’s shadow cabinet Jonathan Ashworth now chief executive (Revolving Door)
Insider methods such as private lobbying, political donations and hiring ex MPs are highly effective at securing insider groups privileged access to government
Lobbying
Penny Mordaunt joining British American Tobacco (BAT)
Mordaunt is a former tory cabinet member
BAT have lobbied in the interests of tobacco, example of revolving door after being out of office for just 5 months
Advisory committee on Business appointments said risk would be fine due to her not having too much influence and she didn’t know any unfair info
Highlights problem with revolving door due to risk of influence of lobbyists
Influence of Lobbying
Tory U-Turn on Net Zero Commitment
May amended the 2008 Climate Change Act to include net zero commitment by 2050
Every leader until Badenoch backed this.
Badenoch announced U-Turn calling it “impossible” for the UK to meet it
Announcement came a month after a weeklong residential with shadow cabinet colleagues couresy of Tory Donor Neil Record who chairs a climate-sceptic group
She claims she had concerns since 2019 but the proximity of the trip to her announcement raises questions
Calls from Tory party to leave ECHR
During the 2024 election, Jenrick advocated for the UK’s withdrawal from ECHR, arguing it was necessary to address illegal immigraition and bolster national security
ECHR jurisdiction impeded UK’s ability to deport individuals and leaving ECHR would solidify parliamentary sovereignty
ECHR and its copying into UK law as the Human Rights Act has been the basis of rights protection in the UK Constitution for decades
Reform UK’s New Treasurer as an example of Party Funding
Reform hired a billionaire as their treasurer at the end of 2024 to help improve fundraising
This has led to backlash as the influence of foreign money in UK elections is bad
Transparency International UK reported that £1 in every £10 donated to parties comes from unknown sources
Labour Party ideology in action
Renationalise Railways
Passenger Railway Services Act was passed in Novermber 2024, this was to re-nationalise rail service
Fairer fares, reliability and operate in passengers’ interest
Influence of Old Labour social democratic style ideology in modern Labour Party
Bringing back clause 4 that Blair got rid of???
Labour policies that show New Labour
Welfare Cuts, Reeves seems more centrist with major cuts to welfare budget, particularly for those who are disabled
Elgibility for Personal Independence Payment (Disability Benefit) will be tightened to mean that fewer people will be able to access it
Labour being right wing
Immigration Policy, Feb 2025, government said that it would make it impossible for a refugee who arrives in the UK on a small boat to become a British citizen
Criticism from Refugee Council and some Labour MPs
Starmer called Britain an “Island of strangers”
Highlights Reform Party significance with the anti-immigrant message
May 2025 local elections, Reform were the most successful which posed a threat to Labour for next election
Labour factions
For Women Scotland Ltd vs The Scottish Ministers
Demonstrates divisions as the government supported the ruling but the progressive wing of the party has criticised the ruling as harmful to the LGBT community
Women and Equalities select committee chair, Labour’s Sarah Owen said judges made their decision without “a single contribution from trans people.”
Conservative Party ideology in action
5 new policies on immigration in Feb 25 one of which said immigrants can only apply for citizenship after 15 years of residence rather than 6
They want the Reform supporters’ votes
Influence of Thatcherism and New Right within Conservative Party
Minor Party success
Reform’s Polling 2024 general election
Jan 2025, YouGov poll, Reform was second place, 25% compared to Labour’s 26% and Tory’s 22%
Reform overtook Tories with party membership too
Polls show gains especially in the 18-24 category
This has put pressure on major parties to put through legislation on immigration to gain seats
Multi party???
Least Proportional election result in history
2024 election - Labour won 411 seats with just 33.7% of the vote (winners’ bonus)
Labour in 2019 got 32% of votes but only 202 seats
Lib Dems in 2024 won 11% of seats with 12% of vote
Lib Dems in 2019 got 11.6% of votes but 11 seats